Career and Education Opportunities for Commercial Divers in Bellevue, Washington

Commercial diver career and educational opportunities abound in Bellevue, Washington. The national trend for commercial divers sees this job pool growing by about 5.8% over the next eight years. In general, commercial divers work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, or install equipment and structures.

The average wage in the general category of Specialized Equipment jobs is $21 per hour or $42,897 per year in Washington, and an average of $18 per hour or $38,023 per year nationwide.

The Bellevue area is home to sixty-four schools of higher education, including one within twenty-five miles of Bellevue where you can get a degree as a commercial diver. The most common level of education for commercial divers is a post-secondary certificate. You can expect to spend a short time training to become a commercial diver if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Commercial Diver

Commercial Diver video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, commercial divers work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, or install equipment and structures. They also may use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, and welding equipment.

Commercial divers check and maintain diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses and gauges. They also take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths, and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin. Equally important, commercial divers have to communicate with staff on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones. They are often called upon to cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment and supports. They are expected to operate underwater video and related apparatus to investigate underwater structures or marine life. Finally, commercial divers examine and test docks, ships, bouyage systems, plant intakes and outflows, and underwater pipelines, cables, and sewers, using closed circuit television and testing equipment.

Every day, commercial divers are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they evaluate problems as they arise.

It is important for commercial divers to take test samples and photographs to gauge the state of vessels and structures. They are often called upon to set up and repair piping and valves. They also set up pilings or footings for piers and bridges. They are sometimes expected to drill holes in rock, and rig explosives for underwater demolitions. Somewhat less frequently, commercial divers are also expected to carry out non-destructive testing such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.

and obtain data related to diving tasks and environmental conditions. And finally, they sometimes have to take test samples and photographs to gauge the state of vessels and structures.

Like many other jobs, commercial divers must be reliable and be persistant in the face of problems and impediments.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Commercial Diver Training

Divers Institute of Technology - Seattle, WA

Divers Institute of Technology, 4315 11th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107-0667. Divers Institute of Technology is a small school located in Seattle, Washington. It is a private for-profit school with primarily less-than 2-year programs. It has 215 students and an admission rate of 86%. Divers Institute of Technology has a one to two year program in Diver, Professional and Instructor which graduated 218 students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Divemaster:
Would you like to lead dives and dive trips; take certified divers on vacations to the world's best dive sites? Many Divemasters are employed full-time or work independently supervising certified divers during club, store, resort or charter tour and travel activities.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue, Washington photo by Jelson25

Bellevue is located in King County, Washington. It has a population of over 123,771, which has grown by 13.0% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Bellevue, 128, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Bellevue are valued at $475,200 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, one hundred thirteen new homes were built in Bellevue, down from one hundred sixty-five the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Bellevue are health care, professional, scientific, and technical services, and educational services. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, transportation equipment, and construction. The average commute to work is about 22 minutes. More than 54.1% of Bellevue residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 19.4%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Bellevue is 7.2%, which is less than Washington's average of 8.7%.

The percentage of Bellevue residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 37.3%, is less than the national average but more than the state average. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the LDS (Mormon) Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Bellevue is home to the Sunset Plaza and the Eastgate Plaza as well as Killarney Glen Park and Coal Creek Park. Shopping malls in the area include Hillfair Shopping Center, Lake Hills Shopping Center and Crossroads Shopping Center. Visitors to Bellevue can choose from Bedynamic Inc, Fairfield Inn Seattle-Bellevue and Bellevue Travelodge for temporary stays in the area.